SHREWSBURY --- After focusing their attentions on transportation, housing, downtown revitalization and commercial development, the 495 Metrowest Suburban Edge Community Commission turned its attention to energy.

The commission, which is studying development challenges faced by the 35 communities along the Route 495 corridor, is in the process of developing a report of the commission's findings that will be used to develop policies and legislation that will benefit the communities as they seek to grow.

Shrewsbury resident and Secretary of Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton and Brian Earley, General Manager for Patriot Place in Foxborough were the keynote speakers, sharing with the commissioners some keys to success in the energy arena.

"Massachusetts is the national leader in energy efficiency, and we have been for the last six years," Beaton said. "Some of the best money we spend is on energy efficiency, because in spite of economic growth in Massachusetts, our energy demand has remained stable.

"Clean energy revolves around three things: cost, carbon and reliability. If we can gain efficiencies, and access storage, then we can shave the peak demands and reduce the costs."

Beaton said that while businesses are looking to be green wherever possible, it is the bottom line that governs most energy related decisions.

"All these programs can save communities and residents money, and by the way, they reduce our impact on the environment."

Beaton said that Massachusetts has the fifth highest cost of electricity in the nation, and some of the most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals, and pointed out that nearly 10,000 megawatts of New England's power generation capabilities are coming offline in the next few years and that his office is working to replace that power with greener alternatives, including 1,200 megawatts of hydro-power and 1,600 in offshore wind.

"We are also looking into new technology that will allow us to store energy," he said.

Beaton said that Massachusetts has one of the highest percentages of solar power in the nation and that a new program is being put into place that restructures the incentives so that they can be calculated more easily and predictably.

Earley said that Patriot Place, which includes Gillette stadium has seen its electricity consumption drop by 26 percent from 2007 to 2015 and its natural gas usage fall by 43 percent during the same time period. Those efficiencies were achieved by leveraging incentives from the utilities, changing the standard temperature in all of the buildings, installing motion sensors for lighting in all office areas and upgrades to the video boards.

The wastewater treatment plant on the 1.5 million square foot campus reclaims nearly 75 percent of the wastewater used and recycles it for toilet flushing throughout the stadium, mall and restaurants.

"We used to use 140,000 megawatts of power during a Patriots game," he said. "Now it's down to 115,000 megawatts. We've had three upgrades to the LED lighting boards, and every time the images are better, and yet our cost has reduced."

Other programs in place include single stream recycling and more than 3000 solar panels, which generate nearly 60 percent of the energy needed on the property, and LED lighting in the parking lots.

"We are committed to sustainability, but the economic impact we have realized would only be possible through this public-private partnership," he said.

The next meeting of the commission will take place on May 19 at Dean College in Franklin.